Meleka is the UK’s brightest and hottest new talent. Armed with one of the biggest dance floor records of the year, her debut single “Go” is currently causing a storm across radio waves and club land throughout the UK and Europe and is set to be a massive hit when its released in Autumn.

Hailing from north-west London singer / songwriter Meleka, 21, was crowned HUGO URBAN RULES winner in 2008 after wowing music industry execs as well as chart toppers Estelle and Sabrina Washington.

It was Meleka’s soaring vocals, self-penned songs and fearless nature that made her the firm favourite for the grand prize at the prestigious urban talent event. “I couldn’t believe Sabrina and Estelle wanted me to share the same stage as them. It was such a privilege,” Meleka modestly admits.

As well as winning the chance to support Estelle at HUGO URBAN RULES headline gig in Manchester Meleka also appeared in the subsequent MTV Base show which was broadcast over 100 times on the channel!!

Meleka has continued to make moves and will be featured alongside Kelis and Chipmunk on the title track of Basement Jaxx new album ‘Scars’.

She has also recorded a feature on Don E’s new single “Time Is Now” alongside Mutya Buena and has been tipped as one to watch.

This year will see a life long dream of Meleka’s become a reality with the release of her debut single, the funky house anthem “Go” produced by the Crazy Cousinz.

We don’t use the term anthem lightly either, the track has already had almost 1 million views on Youtube from fans radio rips alone and 300,000 plays on Myspace.

It has been on the A List @ BBC 1xtra since the beginning of April and has been receiving plays from Galaxy Network, Kiss FM, and Choice FM all without being serviced to radio. Once serviced, Choice FM playlisted the track immediately.

“Go” was also recently picked as Urban Record Of The Month by Mixmag.

Watch “Go” video:

The video for “Go” was directed by Ben Jones who started directing three years ago and was recently signed to Partizan films. He is now represented by Davey Inc and previous work includes projects for The Streets, Lily Allen, Oasis and Example.

Once you hear Meleka’s fresh, irresistible vocals and her passionate song writing ability you’ll understand why others are referring to her as the next big thing to come out of the UK, with talent enough to hold her own on the world stage.

Buy Music:

Meleka on amazon.co.uk

“Go” will be released this Autumn 2009 and will feature a number of mouth watering remixes from such names as Booda Bassline, EL-B, D Bridge, Diamond ft Tinie Tempah, Sid Mercutio and Doug McCourt.

“Go” Released: 19th October
Label: Defenders Ent Ltd

Meleka MySpace
Meleka Official Website

The International Music Summit, Gran Hotel, Ibiza – May 27th – 29, 2009

With just three weeks to go till the biggest names in the dance industry, from the DJ booth to the boardroom, descend on Ibiza for the second International Music Summit, the organisers have revealed full details of the panels, interviews and events taking place over the conferences three days.

The IMS has rapidly set a new standard for conference content giving delegates a unique opportunity to debate and shape the future of their industry. Thoughtful and provocative panel discussions will include topics such as “Managers – Managing the Downturn” with managers of Robbie Williams, Simian Mobile Disco, Paul Oakenfold and David Guetta speaking; “Brands – Bullet Proof Dancing, Surviving the Brand” with Cocoon, Cream and Wall of Sound; and “Festivals – Feast or Famine” with Sonar, Exit Festival and Bestival.

Taking the baton from Tom Middleton and The Soul Avengerz; Dirty Vegas and Above & Beyond have stepped up to the plate to create the IMS:09 Anthem. Dirty Vegas will produce the anthem live, and then will hand it over to Above & Beyond who will remix the anthem live. A fantastic platform to showcase the innovations in electronic music, and definitely a highlight of the IMS…

Taking place from May 27 – 29, 2009 at the island’s luxurious new five-star Gran Hotel, the essential high-profile music gathering has swiftly eclipsed other music conferences to establish itself as the single most important destination for the global dance industry, artists and executives, to do business.

IMS: 09 – BACK TO BUSINESS: THE FULL AGENDA (THE SECOND IBIZA INTERNATIONAL MUSIC SUMMIT)

(Dates and information subject to change.)

WEDNESDAY MAY 27TH 2009

13.00-13.05. Welcome to IMS:09 by the Consell Insular d’Eivissa

13.05-13.15. IMS:09 Introduction & Announcements by IMS Partners
Ben Turner, Danny Whittle, Mark Netto, Pete Tong, Simeon Friend

13.15-13.30. Keynote Introduction. Marc Marot, SEG International, UK.

13.30-14.30. Panel 1: Digital – Do or Die.
Moderator: Ted Cohen, TAG Strategic, USA.
1. David Morgan, Juno Download, UK.
2- Dr Achim Illner, DJ Tunes, Germany.
3- Justin Pearse, DJ Download, UK.
4- Kevin Green, Beatport, USA.
5- Mark Grotefeld, Pioneer, UK.
6- Ray Smith, Be-At.TV, UK.

14.30-15.30. Networking Lunch. Music by Alfredo, Spain.

15.30-16.30. Panel 2: Brands – Bullet Proof Dancing: Surviving The Brand
Moderator: Rhys Hughes, BBC Radio 1.
1- Cathy Guetta, Fuck Me I’m Famous, France.
2- Danny Whittle, Pacha, Spain.
3- James Barton, Cream, UK.
4- Johannes Goller, Cocoon, Germany.
5- Mark Jones, Wall Of Sound, UK.
6- Mar-T, Amnesia, Ibiza.

16.45-17.30. Future Generation – Teenage Dreams with Callum Negus-Fancey, Let’s Go Crazy, UK.
Interviewed by Ben Turner, IMS / Graphite Media.

17.30-18.15. The IMS Anthem 2009 in conjunction with Dance4Life. Created by Dirty Vegas, UK.

18.30-19.30. Panel 3: Managers – Managing The Downturn
Moderator: Marc Marot, SEG Int. Manager of Paul Oakenfold, UK.
1- Caroline Prothero, Prohibition DJ. Manager of David Guetta, UK.
2- David Enthoven, IE Music – Manager of Robbie Williams, UK.
3- Eric Harle, D-E-F. Manager of Moby, Mylo, Roysksopp, UK.
4- Lynn Cosgrave, Safehouse. Manager of Carl Cox, UK.
5- Oli Isaacs, This Is Music. Manager of Simian Mobile Disco, UK.
6- Olga Heinjs, Unmanageable. Manager of Roger Sanchez, Holland.

19.30-21.30. Drinks Reception at the Pioneer Networking Bar, Ibiza Gran Hotel – DJs Tom Middleton and Dan Tait.

20.00-03.00. Danish Dance Music Export Showcase, El Hotel.
Featuring: Steen Thottrup. Soulmagic (Morten Trust & Mikkel Wendelboe). LP Stoevring. Camille Jones – Live. The Montanas (Morjac & Michael Parsberg). Fagget Fairys – Live & DJ set. Kenneth Bager.

23.00-03.00. IMS:09 – IMS Label Showcase, Grial. Rekids Vs Barraca Music
Featuring: Radio Slave (Rekids), Germany. Andrew Grant (Barraca Music), Spain. AFFKT – Live (Barraca Music), Spain.

===============================================================

THURSDAY MAY 28TH 2009

08.30-10.00. Networking Breakfast

10.00-11.00. Panel 4: A&R International Rescue – Patchworking The World
Moderator: Steve Hulme, Pacha Recordings, Spain.
1- Juan Vandervoort, !K7 Records, Germany.
2- Kenneth Bager, Music For Dreams, Denmark.
3- Mark Knight, Toolroom, UK.
4- David Waxman, Ultra Records, USA.
5- Pauli Steinbach, Cocoon, Germany.
6- Tim Binns, New State, UK.

11.15-12.00. Key Note Address: John Niven, Kill Your Friends, UK.

Interviewed by Pete Tong, IMS.

12.15-13.00. The IMS Anthem 2009 in conjunction with Dance4Life.
Remixed by Above & Beyond, UK.

13.15-14.00. Presidential Debate: Digital Dreams
Moderator: Kurosh Nasseri, Nasseri Music Business Solutions, USA.
- Ted Cohen, TAG Strategic, USA.
- Rudy Tambala, Ministry of Sound, UK.

14.00-15.30. Networking Lunch. Music by DJ Pippi, Spain.

15.30-16.30. Panel 5: Brands – Anatomy Of A Brand Deal.
Moderator: Ted Cohen, TAG Strategic, USA.
1- Alex Vlassopulos, Sony Music, UK. The Label.
2- Cliff Fluet, Lewis Silkin, UK. The Lawyer.
3- Eric Karsenty, Blackberry / RIM, France. The Brand.
4- Jason Van-Haeften, Bugle Communications, UK. The Executioner
5- Marc Marot, SEG Int. Manager of Paul Oakenfold, UK. The Manager.
6- Matt Glover, AEG, UK. The Broker.

16.45-17.00. The IMS Vote. Help Shape The Future Of Electronic Music

17.10-18.00. Panel 6: 360 Degree Dancing – Doing It For Themselves
Moderator: Kurosh Nasseri, Nasseri Music Business Solutions, USA.
1- Amy Thomson, X-Ray Touring. UK.
2- Emma Hoser, AM Only, USA.
3- Matt Edwards, Radio Slave / Rekids, Germany.
4- Peter Koepke, USA
5- Richard Marshall, Gulp Marketing, UK.
6- Stephen Kempner, Sheridans – Solicitor, UK.

18.15-20.00. Consell Insular d’Eivissa’s presentation to IMS

20.00-20.15. Speech from Xico Tarrés, President of Ibiza

20.15-21.45. Drinks Reception for Consell Insular d’Eivissa at the Pioneer Networking Bar, Ibiza Gran Hotel
Featuring the Get Tested Charity Auction. DJ Sarah Main.

23.00-03.00. IMS:09 – IMS Label Showcase, Grial. Toolroom Vs Pacha Recordings Vs CR2 Records.
Featuring: Mark Knight (Toolroom), Funkagenda (Toolroom), Sarah Main (Pacha), MYNC aka Mark Brown & Nick Correlli (CR2 Records).

===============================================================

FRIDAY MAY 29TH 2009

08.30-10.00. Networking Breakfast

10.00-11.00. IMS Think Tank.
Chairman: Bobby Simms. Popshop Ents / Univeral Music, UK. EMAIL
1- Mark Dowling, Absolute Marketing, UK.
2- Mark Selby, Nokia, UK.
3- Paul Bedford, Ingenious Media, UK.
4- Pete Koepke, USA
5- Sander Kleinenberg, Little Mountain Recordings, Holland.
6- Ted Cohen, TAG Strategic, USA.

11.15-12.00 Presidential Debate. MiamIbiza: Club Tourism. Where to Now?
Moderator: Samuel Guetta, Ibiza Voice, Spain.
- Louis Puig, Club Space, USA.
- Francisco Ferrer, Pacha, Ibiza.

12.15-13.15. Panel 7. Festivals – Feast or Famine
Moderator: Cris Hearn, Primary Talent – Agent, UK.
1- Bojan Boskovic, Exit Festival, Serbia.
2- Chris Greenwood, Big Chill, UK.
3- Enric Palau, Sonar, Spain.
4- Jose Cadahia, Summercase / Sinnamon, Spain.
5- Martin Gontad, 2 Net Producciones, Argentina.
6- Rob da Bank, Bestival, UK.

13.30-14.15 The Pete Tong Interview: Basement Jaxx, UK.

14.15-15.30. Networking Lunch. Music by George from Nightmares On Wax, Spain.

15.30-16.30. Panel 8. Synchronisation & Visualistion – Seeing Is Believing
Moderator: Jason Bentley, KCRW, USA.
1- Jason Alexander, Hit The Ground Running, USA.
2- Lol Hammond, Vertigo Films, UK.
3- Martin Morales, Disney Music Group, Europe Middle East Africa.
4- Natasha Baldwin, Boosey & Hawkes, UK.
5- PJ Bloom, Neophonic, USA.
6- Sanne Hagelsten, Zync Music, USA.

16.45-17.45. Key Note Interview: Richie Hawtin, M-nus, Germany.
Interviewed by Ben Turner, IMS / Graphite Media, UK.

17.45-18.00. Closing Speech by IMS Partners
Ben Turner, Danny Whittle, Mark Netto, Pete Tong, Simeon Friend.

19.00-00.00. IMS Grand Finale in association with Pioneer. Drinks courtesy of Sol
19.00-19.10. Introduction by Tony Andrews from Funktion 1
19.10-20.40. Rob da Bank
20.40-21.15. Filthy Dukes – Live
21.15-22.45. Pete Tong
22.45-00.00. Basement Jaxx – Live

For the most up to date information and more, please go to:

International Music Summit Official Website

*** DJs Richie Hawtin, Pete Tong and Rob da Bank join Filthy Dukes live***
***IMS to host label showcases from Rekids, Toolroom, Pacha Recordings and CR2***
***Speakers confirmed from Nokia, Disney, AEG, Big Chill, Ingenious and BBC Radio 1***

The International Music Summit is shaping up as a force to be reckoned with, with just under 150 delegate badges left available, inventive panel discussions with leading industry figures announced, intimate evening showcases and now a spectacular grand finale to open the summer season.

The three-day music summit, which will be held at the Ibiza Gran Hotel from the 27-29th May 2009, will culminate with a dazzling live event at the stunning location in Ibiza’s Dalt Vila.

This famous UNESCO World Heritage site will set the spectacular backdrop for the IMS: 09 Grande Finale with a live show featuring the Grammy & Brit award winning Basement Jaxx playing an exclusive live set alongside emerging electronic act The Filthy Dukes.

DJs include a rare set from Richie Hawtin outside of Cocoon / Amensia, plus BBC Radio 1’s Pete Tong and Rob da Bank.

The IMS have announced that 700 tickets will be available to the public for this landmark event. The IMS:09 will be the first international contemporary music event to take place within the historic Moorish walls of the old town, overlooking the Mediterranean, and annually home to the Ibiza Jazz Festival. The Consell Insular d’Eivissa (Ibiza local government), are co-sponsors of the IMS: 09 event, sending a strong message of support and approval to the electronic gathering.

Basement Jaxx, famous for their flamboyant live stage shows, will perform fully live to kick-start their summer tour. It will act as a first opportunity for anybody to see the new show.

The band state:

“We’re delighted to have been asked to close the Grand Finale of the International Music Summit 2009 inside the castle at the top of the old town of Ibiza. To play such a spectacular and intimate venue on the island where we’ve had so many good times was a temptation we couldn’t turn down. What a brilliant way to kick off summer 2009!” – Felix & Simon, Basement Jaxx

Basement Jaxx will also appear at the IMS summit itself, being interviewed by Pete Tong in front of the electronic industry; about how they’ve made the step from parties in Brixton to Brazilian festivals to become one of the most successful dance acts to emerge from the scene in the last 20 years.

Richie Hawtin, Pete Tong and Rob da Bank will make their only DJ performances of the Ibiza opening party weekend at the IMS Gran Finale. Emerging crossover act Filthy Dukes also play live at sunset.

Pete Tong states: “This is my only performance of the Ibiza opening weekend and after three days of intense debate; it will be a night to celebrate. To see the Jaxx in the most historic location on the island will be a moment to remember. Sunset in Dalt Vila will never be the same.”

IMS summit content is shaping up nicely too; with additional speakers being added to the already impressive line-up. With no doubling up of panels to create focus, they are gaining a well-deserved reputation for helping to shape the future of the electronic music scene.

Latest speaker additions include Mark Selby, the Vice President of Nokia Multimedia worldwide, who has history with Ibiza after creating the first ever mobile phone initiative in Ibiza in 1999 with IMS partners Ben Turner and Pete Tong.

In addition, Ted Cohen from TAG Strategic will feature in a presidential style debate. Cohen was formerly Vice President of Digital Development at EMI.

Martin Morales from Disney Music Group joins the synch session, whilst the legendary audio genius behind Funktion 1, Tony Andrews, will also speak about the increasing importance of educating about good sound to the IPod generation. Other names of note include artist Mark Knight, plus representatives from The Big Chill, AEG Europe, Ingenious Media and BBC Radio 1.

The full list of new additions is:

* Amy Thomson, Dex-Ray, UK
* Callum Negus-Fancey, Let¹s Go Crazy, UK
* Caroline Prothero, Prohibition DJ, UK
* Chris Greenwood, Big Chill, UK
* Cliff Fluet, Lewis Silkin, UK
* Dirty Vegas, Artists, UK
* Felix Buxton, Basement Jaxx, UK
* Horst Weidenmueller, !K7 Records / IMPALA, Germany
* Kenneth Bager, Music For Dreams, Denmark
* Lol Hammond, Vertigo Films, UK
* Mark Knight, Toolroom, UK
* Mark Selby, Nokia, UK
* Martin Morales, Disney Music Group, Europe, Middle East & Africa
* Matt Glover, AEG Europe, UK
* Paul Bedford, Ingenious Media, UK
* Rhys Hughes, BBC Radio 1, UK
* Richard Marshall, Gulp Marketing, UK
* Richard Norris, Beyond The Wizard’s Sleeve, UK
* Simon Ratcliffe, Basement Jaxx, UK
* Ted Cohen, TAG Strategic, USA
* Tom Middleton, Artist, UK
* Tony Andrews, Funktion 1, USA

Tom Middleton has now been confirmed as the official IMS blogger in conjunction with Beatport. He will write live on the Beatportal website as the debates rage with his personal views and insight.

IMS has also announced that on the first and second nights of the summit (Wednesday & Thursday), labels Rekids, Toolroom, Pacha Recordings and CR2 will host intimate showcase events at the Grial venue, located opposite the main Ibiza Gran Hotel. Three labels will showcase at each party.

Help shape the future of electronic music and get to the International Music Summit 2009.

Tickets for the Grand Finale and the International Music Summit are available at:

International Music Summit Official Website

‘Character Assassination’ is the second release in a series of EPs from Scissor Sister guitarist, Del Marquis.

Del Marquis on amazon.com

The March 2009 EP release by Embryoroom Multimedia Group is available through digital retailers including iTunes.

The first in the series, the ‘Hothouse’ EP, was released in December 2008 and ‘Character Assassination’ showcases another side to Marquis’ talents and offers a greatly different collection of songs from the ‘Hothouse’ EP.

The themes of the songs on ‘Character Assassination’ reflect the music’s diversity, and Marquis delves into such off-the-beaten-track subjects as the thin line between happiness and despair (in the title track), the thoughts of a murderer and their victim in a nightclub (Raise The Level) and the fragile state of the human ego (Harmony Park).

The EP features a couple of impressive guests, with Vula and Sharlene from Basement Jaxx on “Raise The Level” and Joan Wasser (otherwise known as Joan As Police Woman) on “Untitled”, all making appearances.

Also included are two ‘Shadow’ tracks by Embryoroom and Marquis. These re-envision the idea of the remix as complete reinterpretations of the tracks “Character Assassination” and “Raise The Level”. From production to instrumentation, the Shadows will present a darker and decidedly less pop approach to the songs.

As before, ‘Character Assassination’ will be released alongside the latest installment of digital motion ‘Intersodes’ which will come in an episodic form with each EP.

The second Intersode, ‘Chamber of Aversion’, picks up where we first left Viz, the character played by Marquis. In the midst of his abduction, we follow Viz through a dark world where he is examined physically and electronically, emotionally and psychologically.

For music and more information, go to:

Del Marquis Official Website

Embryoroom Multimedia Group

With a growing army of admirers and fans all over the world, now is your chance to witness what all the fuss is about.

Bouncing from the East to the West coasts and destined to wow audiences with their revivalist new wave synth-pop, Toronto-based quadruplet, Dragonette, are now embarking on a much welcomed four-date mini-tour this fall in the United States.

Download “I Get Around” MP3

With the pending release of their refreshing debut album ‘Galore’ out on October 28th, 2008, watch out for their dirty electronica beats and synths, trunk full of hooks, neon-doused live shows and downright naughty delivery and vocals by the bands star front woman Martina Sorbara.

It’s clear that this clever and glamorous cohesion of talent and shameless honesty is exactly what will take Dragonette beyond the realms of any hipster hyped about band (even though they have all the right factors that equate to any partygoer’s dream night out) and carry them into the mainstream superstar arena throughout 2009.

The band, which was named after the singer’s ipod, possess an edgy dance rock sound with a bubble-gum pop lining. Lead vocalist and sultry siren, Martina, formed the band in 2005 when she met her future bassist, and future husband, Dan Kurtz at a Canadian music festival. Martina, with her poppy songstress vocals and deep desire for some driving eccentric pop dance beats, eagerly agreed to leave behind her sucessful solo career and form what was originally just the dynamic duo, Dragonette.

Watch “I Get Around” video:

“We met at a Canadian music festival we were both playing at,” Martina explains “and then we screwed.”

“And then I left my girlfriend.” states Dan.

The rest was, as we say, history and Dragonette was born.

Later on in that year, Joel Stouffer (drums) and Will Stapleton (guitar) rounded out the line-up and they were soon asked to open up for Duran Duran’s US tour after only being a together for eight months.

‘Galore’, produced by Dan Kurtz himself, he also produced Feist’s critically acclaimed Monarch ‘Lay Your Jewelled Head Down’ just prior to forming the band.

Their debut single off the album, “I Get Around,” recently hit the Top 20 in Canada and the ridiculously infectious “Get Lucky,” reached global status, as after it was synched to fifteen major movies and advertising campaigns in the United States.

The band has played everywhere from dingy underground hipster clubs to festivals like Glastonbury and the Virgin Music Festival; and Martina has already achieved pop-star status, as she wrote and sang lead vocals on Basement Jaxx’s hit single, “Take Me Back to Your House.” Dragonette has also been nominated for a Juno Award for Best New Group.

With songs reminiscent of those ranging from bands such as The Eurythmics and The Cars, Dragonette is sure to spark the interests of many a teen girl and boy as much as they would, your suburban housewife or club kid queen. Their music and live shows can ultimately be described as “a world of guilt-free pleasure mixed with 80’s party prowess”.

Eclectic and exciting, stretching from sunny-day folk to hard driving dance rock, this is music for the masses at it’s finest. Dragonette is a glamorous masterpiece that is sure to appeal to all so don’t miss them this September!

Dragonette September 2008 tour dates:

9/18 – The Mercury Lounge – New York, NY
(w/ The Major Labels, Oppenheimer)

9/19 – Le Royale – New York, NY
(w/ Headman)

9/22 – The Trobaudour – West Hollywood, CA – SOLD OUT
(w/ Does it Offend You, Yeah? And DJ AC Slater)

9/23/08 – Cinespace – Hollywood, CA
(w/ Does It Offend You, Yeah? And DJ AC Slater)

“Take it Like a Man” video

Dragonette Official Website
MySpace